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Brittany Breed Summary
Happy, Independent, Active, Energetic and Attentive
This particular breed originates from France and they were originally bred to be working dogs! They absolutely love having a job to do and can often become bored and destructive if left by themselves with nothing to do for too long. They are hugely popular in France but have since started to grow in popularity here in the UK as well!
They are lightly built, as compared to other types of Spaniel but have really friendly and kind personalities, always eager to please their 'hoomans'. For this reason, they make lovely pets but would better suit a home where the owners have experience with similar breeds.
Fun Fact: They absolutely love the great outdoors, so they're great for owners who like to take long walks!
Kennel Club Group | Gundog |
Lifespan | 12 - 14 Years |
Height (at the withers) | Males 48cm - 51cm, Females 47cm - 50cm |
Weight | Males and Females 20kg - 23kg |
Coat | The Coat is Dense but either Lies Flat or can be Slightly Wavy |
Colour | White, Black & White Roan, Black Tricolour, Liver & White, Liver Tricolour, Orange & White, Orange & White Roan, Tricolour |
Eye colour | Dark Brown |
Common health issues | Hip dysplasia, Congenital stationery night blindness (CSNB), Retinal epithelial dystrophy (RPED or CPRA), Non-malignant skin tumours, Ectopic ureter, Bloat/gastric torsion |
Other Names | Brittany Spaniel, Brittany Wiegref, Epagneul Breton, French Brittany |
These dogs are known for their happy manners. However, they are also fiercely independent and can get a little obsessed when it comes to birds! Normally though, they will respond well to their 'hoomans', as really all they want to do is please you! For this reason, they make incredibly good dogs for first-time owners. They're incredibly active and will need a few daily brisk walks in order to keep them fit and healthy. Additionally, their high intelligence means that they need plenty of mental stimulation. It's also important to start socialising and training these guys from a young age, this way you can guarantee a content and well-rounded dog!
These dogs take their name from the popular area of France, Brittany. The area lies across the English Channel from Wales and for over a thousand years, it's thought that there was a lot of importing and exporting between the two areas and it's that more than likely this included the exchange of dogs! However, the first records we have of these dogs date back to the 17th century, including a variety of paintings and tapestries. They have since become fairly popular in Britain and other European countries and were a recognised breed in France in 1907. Unfortunately, the onset of WW2 saw a decline in the breed and it took time to bring the breed back into prosperity. During this time period, however, the breed was referred to as the 'Brittany Spaniel' and breeders wanted the word spaniel removed from the name, as they are actually pointing dogs! And eventually, in 1982, the name was changed by the Kennel Club.